Cannot Obtain An Extension For My Non O Visa !

[JustAnotherFarang]

Hi Guys

I have been living in the south of Thailand for nearly 12 years and each year I have obtained a non o immigrant visa based on my marriage to a thai lady. Last year, due to a shortfall in my funds, I had to obtain a further one month extension so as to allow for my funds to rest in the thai bank for 2 months as required by my visa.This year, my visa ran out on the 3rd of April and although I have funds equalling the amount of 400,000 bht in my bank, they needed to stay in the bank for an additional month to satisfy immigrations "2 month rule".

My wife contacted immigration and told them that my visa ran out on the 3rd but due to a preplanned holiday, we would not be able to attend immigration until the 8th of April which was given the "OK". On the 8th we reported to the office to find that it was closed for an unofficial holiday and we where told to report back on Monday morning. The guy told us that we would not have to pay any overstay as the office was closed due to unforeseen circumstances.

This morning I reported to the office and requested a 1 month extension to prove the funds in my bank account but I was told that because I had used the overstay facility the year before, I was unable to use it again this year. When asked what the alternatives where, I was told that I would have to leave the country. I thought this meant a brief journey over to Kawtheung in Myanmar which is easy enough but the guy insisted I would have to leave the country and go to Malaysia to obtain a visa there............

My question are these

1. Is it true that I cannot apply for a one month extension now that I have come to the end of my non immigrant o visa ?

2. Why cant I get a 15 day tourist visa from Burma. This would cover the days required for my funds to satisfy immigration ?

2. If I really have to go to Malaysia, what visa do you think I should apply for ? I am sure I have all the necessary information needed but a quick checklist would save any worries later please.

Many thanks for any advice

a rather frustrated JAF

[Mario2008]

1. It is not a 1 month extension, but a 60 day extension and you should be able to use it again this year.

2. You would lose your current entry on a non-immigrant visa and cannot get an extension on your entry from Burma, as that one is a visa exempt entry and not a non-immigrant entry.

3. A single non-O would be enough, for that the marriage certificate copy of wife ID-card and household registraion would be enough.

Immigration can give you the 60 day extension amd you can contact the immigration hotline baout it: 1178. But there is the problem that your extension to stay expired, so getting a new non-immigrant visa might be the easiest way forward.

[JustAnotherFarang]

1. It is not a 1 month extension, but a 60 day extension and you should be able to use it again this year.

2. You would lose your current entry on a non-immigrant visa and cannot get an extension on your entry from Burma, as that one is a visa exempt entry and not a non-immigrant entry.

3. A single non-O would be enough, for that the marriage certificate copy of wife ID-card and household registraion would be enough.

Immigration can give you the 60 day extension amd you can contact the immigration hotline baout it: 1178. But there is the problem that your extension to stay expired, so getting a new non-immigrant visa might be the easiest way forward.

Thanks Mario

I am going to give immigration hotline a ring now to try and sort this out properly

I shall let you know how I get on

JAF

[lopburi3]

It seems immigration expected you to extend your stay on the 8th and tried to allow that but you did not qualify for the extension of stay and with the late application did not qualify for 60 day extension. FYI: you should have made the application for 60 day extension of stay before your vacation if you were not going to be able to do the normal one year extension because of seasoning (and that should also be done early).

At this point a visit to Penang or KL would seem to be in order if you are living in the South - you might use it as a vacation if wife does not have to work and both make the trip. As said a single entry non immigrant O visa is what you need to start the extension of stay process again. You would normally make your application for extension 60-70 days after your return.

At this point each additional day is a 500 baht fine increase for overstay.

[JustAnotherFarang]

It seems immigration expected you to extend your stay on the 8th and tried to allow that but you did not qualify for the extension of stay and with the late application did not qualify for 60 day extension. FYI: you should have made the application for 60 day extension of stay before your vacation if you were not going to be able to do the normal one year extension because of seasoning (and that should also be done early).

At this point a visit to Penang or KL would seem to be in order if you are living in the South - you might use it as a vacation if wife does not have to work and both make the trip. As said a single entry non immigrant O visa is what you need to start the extension of stay process again. You would normally make your application for extension 60-70 days after your return.

At this point each additional day is a 500 baht fine increase for overstay.

Thanks Lopburi

I did ring the immigration hotline and that was fruitless. They gave me another telephone to ring which just so happens to be the local immigration office where we have already been given short thrift today. I cannot blame it on the local immigration office entirely, it must be said that my wife failed to inform them of my initial problems properly.

So its a long haul down to Penang for us which is hardly beneficial as I am in mourning and my mind is more akin to a washing machine at the moment. So would anyone be so kind as to tell me the in and outs of applying for a "single" entry visa in Penang. I have my own transport but from what I can remember, there is a problem about actually driving into Malaysia as a farang. So where best to park up the truck (safely) and how best to negotiate the inevitable twists and turns successfully

Many thanks for your swift advice guys, I really do appreciate all the input

JAF

[lopburi3]

I don't believe it is a problem as long as you obtain insurance and vehicle is in your name (and you are are careful to not break any laws) but have never done so not sure. But there is good transportation from Hat Yai so maybe best to arrange keeping vehicle there and take share taxi, van, bus or train.

[JustAnotherFarang]

I don't believe it is a problem as long as you obtain insurance and vehicle is in your name (and you are are careful to not break any laws) but have never done so not sure. But there is good transportation from Hat Yai so maybe best to arrange keeping vehicle there and take share taxi, van, bus or train.

Cheers Lopburi

I shall be driving down to Hat Yai today in the next 30 minutes and leave the car there and start the whole process tomorrow. What I would appreciate is a walkthru guide as to where I should go to from there and the approxiamate costs. Bearing in mind I have an overstay penalty to pay and I just want to make this whole process as simple as possible so that I can get back home to Thailand.

Cheers

JAF

Edited April 11, 2011 by JustAnotherFarang

[lopburi3]

Ask around hotel tonight about transport - most leaves early in morning but suspect only a share taxi would get you to Penang in time to make application same day. Normally it is next day pick-up but the following three/five days are holiday so you may have a long time in Penang. But a service might be able to obtain same day for payment and I have obtained same day many years ago as Consulate did on there own with a holiday coming. Overstay is paid as you cross border and normally should not take more than a couple of minutes for a short period like you have. Good luck.

[Mario2008]

Keep in mind the consulate will be closed for songkran. Believe they don't issue the same day, so you might have to wait till Monday to pick your passport and visa up.

[JustAnotherFarang]

Ask around hotel tonight about transport - most leaves early in morning but suspect only a share taxi would get you to Penang in time to make application same day. Normally it is next day pick-up but the following three/five days are holiday so you may have a long time in Penang. But a service might be able to obtain same day for payment and I have obtained same day many years ago as Consulate did on there own with a holiday coming. Overstay is paid as you cross border and normally should not take more than a couple of minutes for a short period like you have. Good luck.

Thank you ever so much......... I hope I dont have to spend 3 days in Malaysia so I best get my skates on quick and leave now

Many thanks

JAF

[lopburi3]

Be aware hotel space is likely to be hit and miss in Hat Yai as many come up there for the holidays.

[JustAnotherFarang]

Be aware hotel space is likely to be hit and miss in Hat Yai as many come up there for the holidays.

Hotel space was the least of my worries.........

So I drove all the way down to Hat Yai and finding accommodation was easy in comparison to trying to find out where the minivan hire to

Penang was available. Everything was closed and the only people on the streets where the party people preparing for Songkran.

So I drove down to Sadao thinking that if I was right next to the checkpoint it would make things easier........ big big mistake. The local immigration guy said that there was a problem with going to Penang as they where closed on the 13th over the Songkran period and that I would be stuck there until after the holidays. I told him that my wife had rung them already and that they said they where open but he insisted that they where closed. Left arm doesn't know what the right arm is doing...........I didn't know who to trust.

My wife then sort out a motorcycle taxi into Malaysia which was a little expensive at 60 bht for what is 5 mins walking distance. He dropped me off at the nearby taxi rank and found a taxi driver who spoke English. The guy tells me that I have to go to Penang and tells me its 300. Stupidly I thought he meant 300 baht so I jumped into the taxi only to find that my designated driver cannot speak a word of English (or Thai), his gearbox was failing so he could only use 4 gears and that there was no air conditioner.....windows open all the way but what the hell, I was on my way.

Alas if that was the end of my problems then I would not bother forewarning others, but what happened next was simply astounding. The driver takes me through several checkpoints and each time asks for my passport. The 4th time he pulled into what looked like another checkpoint and I try to find out why but he is unable to explain but takes my passport to show this guy........ who duly stamps me out of Malaysia after being in the country for less than 45 mins. The taxi driver then pulls up and insists on me paying him 600 bht and pointing to the huge songkran queues of muslim revellers that I should join. By now, I had figured that the idiot had just taken me from one Immigration checkpoint to another and all I could do was to get a 15 day tourist visa from there. I was befuddled and at the end of my tether, so I got my 15 day visa and walked back into Thailand. Hardly a success seeing as I needed a non "o" single entry to solve my problems. By now I had had enough and just wanted to return home.

After 7 hours of defensive/offensive driving, I finally returned home......and from what I can gather, I will have to go through all the same shennanigans in 2 weeks time. So please please please, can some tell me exactly where I should be looking in Hat Yai to stay and where can I book/organise the shared minivans that need to take me to Penang. I would also appreciate a "heads up" as to what I can expect in Penang so that I can be all the more worldly wise on my next trip.

Many thanks for any advice given

JAF

PS It must be said that I am suffering from a family bereavement at the moment which did little to enlighten my growing sense of frustration. Apologies if this comes over in my messages

[Lite Beer]

When I used to go to Penang I used the Mini Bus across the road from Kings Hotel in Hat Yai.

I assume it is still there.

[lopburi3]

I can only guess that the taxi ride was to Padang (Besar) rather than Penang (as that is the only other border crossing within an hour that I can think of) but you do not mention return to Sadao so not sure.

I can not imagine any hotel in Hat Yai not being able to provide contact for vans to Georgetown (Panang) and any pedi cab could do so if asked. They leave from most of the tourist shops and share taxi used to run from Kings Hotel (and there were at least two other locations I had seen). Kings hotel is also a low budget hotel but not sure about parking area.

One advantage things should be much less chaotic in both Hat Yai and Penang in two weeks time. Normally Hat Yai is very quiet except Friday and Saturday with good shopping markets.

[ESB7]

When I used to go to Penang I used the Mini Bus across the road from Kings Hotel in Hat Yai.

I assume it is still there.

Thats still the case and Kings hotel starts at about 500 Baht.....get the minivan to Georgetown. Stay at one of the hotels in Chulia Street, prices for shared bath start at 200Baht and if you want air,TV, etc about 700......Town House or New Banana are Ok..also New Banana Guest house will do your visa for you, charge about 200Baht but saves you messing about going to the consulate....get the minvan back to Hat Yai, first one leaves about 5 or 6 am....

[jazzbo]

I am very sorry to read of the OP's and his wife's dilemma which is more than anyone should have to endure just to get an extension ...

However, on these pages many times one can read of 'It was time for my visa/extension but I had OTHER commitments, priorities, plans, etc.' ... SAY WHAT?

[JustAnotherFarang]

I am very sorry to read of the OP's and his wife's dilemma which is more than anyone should have to endure just to get an extension ...

However, on these pages many times one can read of 'It was time for my visa/extension but I had OTHER commitments, priorities, plans, etc.' ... SAY WHAT?

Hi Jazzbo

Just want to clear up something you said. As I have already alluded to in my previous conversations, I was suffering from bereavement at the time and incorrectly assumed my visa ran out on the 3rd when in actual fact, it ran out on the 10th of April. Please bear in mind that I did actually attend the immigration office on the 8th of April (after my holidays) but was told to come back on the following Monday which was the 11th. Considering that the immigration office where directly responsible for my problems, it seems a little shoddy to suggest that I may have brought some of this upon myself.

May I also take this opportunity to thank all the other posters, especially Lopburi, Lite Beer and ESB7 for their kind help and assistance. I really appreciate you guys taking the time to advise me and I hope that my next journey will be less eventful albeit more successful.

Once again, many thanks guys

JAF

(reason for edit, forgot to thank 2 other posters who offered valuable advice)

Edited April 13, 2011 by JustAnotherFarang

[jazzbo]

I am very sorry to read of the OP's and his wife's dilemma which is more than anyone should have to endure just to get an extension ...

However, on these pages many times one can read of 'It was time for my visa/extension but I had OTHER commitments, priorities, plans, etc.' ... SAY WHAT?

. Considering that the immigration office where directly responsible for my problems, it seems a little shoddy to suggest that I may have brought some of this upon myself.

I would say for the benefit of others that YOU were directly responsible for your problems, not Immigration ... Guys on here have said that they received an opinion over the phone or even in person with one IMM officer, and then when they later showed up that officer was not to be found and was given a different opinion ... Taking care of vital visa or extension matters should always take precedence over a holiday and -- with all due respect -- IMM is not about to make concessions every time someone says someone has died as long as it isn't you.

[JustAnotherFarang]

I am very sorry to read of the OP's and his wife's dilemma which is more than anyone should have to endure just to get an extension ...

However, on these pages many times one can read of 'It was time for my visa/extension but I had OTHER commitments, priorities, plans, etc.' ... SAY WHAT?

. Considering that the immigration office where directly responsible for my problems, it seems a little shoddy to suggest that I may have brought some of this upon myself.

I would say for the benefit of others that YOU were directly responsible for your problems, not Immigration ... Guys on here have said that they received an opinion over the phone or even in person with one IMM officer, and then when they later showed up that officer was not to be found and was given a different opinion ... Taking care of vital visa or extension matters should always take precedence over a holiday and -- with all due respect -- IMM is not about to make concessions every time someone says someone has died as long as it isn't you.

I think you must have misread something in my posting. I arrived at the immigration office on the 8th. My visa did not run out until the 10th. There was nobody there to accept my application and the guy from immigration detention centre which is located in the same building in an adjoining office told us that due to the unforeseen circumstances there was no one there to help us but that we should return on the Monday morning which was the 11th. I have been doing this type of visa application for over 8 years so I was quite familiar with the staff but I was most unfortunate in meeting one of their new replacements who really did not know his arse from his elbow, for example, insisting that I needed funds of 400,000 in my account to season for 3 months, not 2. Only after reading his own thai instruction manual did he realise his mistake but still he insisted that there was nothing further he was prepared to do. His simple logic is that I should have come on the 7th........I would have if I could have read their minds.

Pray tell me, if you found yourself in this unfortunate situation, what would you have done ? And I would like to hear how you can misconstrue the evidence to make me directly responsible for these unforeseen problems.

JAF

PS Please also bear in mind that I had already taken my holiday well within the alloted time. I arrived home on the 7th and went to immigration the next day. The notion that I planned a holiday over my visa regulations is misguided and untrue.

PPS I also made no mention of my bereavement to immigration nor did I try to use it to sway favour. I only mentioned here online to explain my inital befuddlement at confusing the initial dates in my visa where I said I thought my visa had run out on the 3rd. As mentioned several times now, it was actually on the 10th.

Edited April 13, 2011 by JustAnotherFarang

[jazzbo]

When the relevant Immigration office supervisor says to you "Yes, Kuhn JAF, WE were responsible for all your problems and will grant you your new extension post haste" then I will agree ... else the person seeking the extension is always responsible.

[JustAnotherFarang]

When the relevant Immigration office supervisor says to you "Yes, Kuhn JAF, WE were responsible for all your problems and will grant you your new extension post haste" then I will agree ... else the person seeking the extension is always responsible.

Dear Jazzbo

I really don't think you have added anything of note to this thread but thank you for taking the time to read my posts more thoroughly.

Happy Songkran

JAF

[jazzbo]

I did not intend to add anything other than a heads-up to others that after reading

... a pre-planned holiday

my wife contacted Immigration ...

... suffering from a family bereavement

and especially

Considering that the immigration office (were) directly responsible for my problems ...

that they should take note that -- barring the rare exception -- Immigration doesn't give a sh-t about your problems

Edited April 13, 2011 by jazzbo

[rishi]

It's only at the first extension, the two month seasoning requirement for the 400,000 Baht applies. Thereafter the requirements actually do say three month seasoning, meaning that OP actually didn't meet the requirements on the 11.th. Therefore all the following problems. Add to this that extensions can be granted upto 30 days before expiry without. any loss of time. Add to this that it isn't immigrations responsibility that the applicatant meets the requirements - so jazzbo is correct in his saying that immigration isn't to blame for OP's plights.

The moral of the story clearly is: Don't ever wait until the last minute before applying for extension - rules may have changed or your interpretation of the rules may not match immigration's interpretation.

[lopburi3]

Actually the regulations say no such thing - they say two months and that is what is required. Only for retirement do they say three months after first application. This has caused issues in the past but current policy seems to be officially two months for all applications for Thai wife extension at this point.

[JustAnotherFarang]

Actually the regulations say no such thing - they say two months and that is what is required. Only for retirement do they say three months after first application. This has caused issues in the past but current policy seems to be officially two months for all applications for Thai wife extension at this point.

Thank you Lopburi for clarifying the fact as I knew it regarding "seasoning" of my funds.

It is at this point that I shall withdraw from this discussion but I will bookmark the page so that I can easily access all the relevant information for my next trip. I will also take on board your other suggestion to make it a more romantic getaway with my wife rather than the tedious ordeal it was previously.

Thank you to all the posters for their contributions

JAF

[Expat7]

Actually the regulations say no such thing - they say two months and that is what is required. Only for retirement do they say three months after first application. This has caused issues in the past but current policy seems to be officially two months for all applications for Thai wife extension at this point.

Thank you Lopburi for clarifying the fact as I knew it regarding "seasoning" of my funds.

It is at this point that I shall withdraw from this discussion but I will bookmark the page so that I can easily access all the relevant information for my next trip. I will also take on board your other suggestion to make it a more romantic getaway with my wife rather than the tedious ordeal it was previously.

Thank you to all the posters for their contributions

JAF

My wife always enjoyed Penang when we went, hope you do also...great shopping and fantastic Indian food at very very cheap prices.....you can also get the train from Hat Yai and then the ferry over to Penang...the train is a bit slow but see the scenery.....good luck anyway..

[JustAnotherFarang]

Actually the regulations say no such thing - they say two months and that is what is required. Only for retirement do they say three months after first application. This has caused issues in the past but current policy seems to be officially two months for all applications for Thai wife extension at this point.

Thank you Lopburi for clarifying the fact as I knew it regarding "seasoning" of my funds.

It is at this point that I shall withdraw from this discussion but I will bookmark the page so that I can easily access all the relevant information for my next trip. I will also take on board your other suggestion to make it a more romantic getaway with my wife rather than the tedious ordeal it was previously.

Thank you to all the posters for their contributions

JAF

My wife always enjoyed Penang when we went, hope you do also...great shopping and fantastic Indian food at very very cheap prices.....you can also get the train from Hat Yai and then the ferry over to Penang...the train is a bit slow but see the scenery.....good luck anyway..

Thank you Expat7, sounds like a great place to enjoy spending some time with my wife. I am also beginning to appreciate the positives of the whole situation as I can now apply for a one year visa and not have immigration prying into my financial accounts. I can then also avoid that particular immigration office for the next 15 months as it is just a short hop from my hometown over to a well known casino island to update my visa every 90 days. I can also stock up on duty free goodies which are otherwise unavailable in my hometown. It may not have been a good week but I think we will turn it around and end up having a great holiday

Happy Songkran

JAF

[lopburi3]

Most Consulates do not like to issue multi entry non immigrant O visas however so make sure you can obtain before you make final plans. There are several visa services you can Google that will answer emails and provide current conditions. The best best in Malaysia is Kuala Lumpur as they have set requirement of proof of 100k in bank account, marriage certificate, wife ID card and home register. Her documents signed by her to help prove marriage is still active.